The 4th, The Water Slide, & The Progress

It seems I can't post unless I have pictures. I don't know - I just love looking at pictures on other blogs so I hope everyone likes looking at mine. I will have to work at having a non-picture post. Anyway, I ended up spending the arm & leg on a great water slide for the kids. We received our government stimulus check and I just felt like I should spend some of it on the kiddos. Plus, I did my part in stimulating the economy, right? I must say it is probably one of the best purchases I have ever made. It came in at our local Wal-mart on Thursaday the 3rd so I took it out to Mom & Dad's and left it there for my Dad to set up (he is so good at that stuff) since we would be back there on the 4th to celebrate with the family. I also picked up Elli Kate to spend the night since Penni & Todd & Hayden were still on their trip. Savanna, Shane, & Elli Kate played all day on the 4th until we left for Mom & Dad's. We cooked hot dogs, watched the kids slide on the slide, made smores, ate watermelon, and then later popped fireworks.




All the girls getting their sparlers lit.

Savanna Jo waving that sparkler.

Shane wasn't to sure about his sparkler so he was trying to give it back to me.

Watching the fireworks show.

Elli Kate

Avery

Ashlyn

On Saturday, I was so proud of myself .... I set up the water slide all by myself at our house. It was really pretty easy. We invited Rody over and they spent the whole afternoon on the water slide. Later that evening, Jody and I went to a beautiful wedding of a friend while Sherry and Gene (our good friends) kept Savanna and Shane. We later met up with them and the kids at Lake Cypress for their wonderful fireworks show. I had a video of it, but can't get it to download.

Our house and yard are always such a work in progress. A little history - Before we got married, Jody bought our house in bad shape and had to do a lot of work to it. Then we added a metal roof, back porch and carport. Next came the addition of our bedroom, bathroom, and office with the arrival of Shane. Jody and I have always had plans and visions of how we want our place to be but for me I always get impatient and want it to instantly be the way we want it. But Jody has a way of balancing and calming me down and saying that it will all come together one project at a time. Well, our backyard is finally coming together. They have been working so hard this summer to get in a playground for the kids and a backyard fence put up.


This is the slide that Jody bought at an auction LAST year. It came with two swings that are going up beside it.



And this is the beginning of the fence.

Rodeo, Birthday, ETC.

I thought about separating and making different entries for the different happenings in our life, but I figured my few readers would hang with me through this long post of pictures and explainations. Plus, the computer was really downloading fast for me so I didn't want to mess it up. I was on a roll and just kept downloading away.



When we sit down at the table to eat and Jody says the prayer, Shane really does so well. I have to watch myself, because I get so tickled. He has now started moving his lips like he is saying it along with Jody. I really need to get a video of it.


We made a trip to Wal-mart one weekend and wanted to get something for the kids to stay cool and play with in the backyard without paying an arm and a leg. Well, the picture on the box (above) made it look so big and we were so excited, but when we got home it was just a little smaller that I had invisioned. It is just fine for our two, but I don't think we could have 5 kids playing with it like the picture shows. They have had fun with it and I am glad.


On Thursday, I got off work a little early and rushed to make it to the Bogata Parade because Savanna was riding her pony in it. She has been talking about it for weeks and practicing riding. She has been using her reins but for the parade Jody led her pony behide his horse. We have two ponies, so Rody road the other one. They did so well.

Shane and BreAnna watching the parade. One of these days, I am going to get a good picture of BreAnna. She is soooo camera shy.

Yeah!!!! SAVANNA LOST HER FIRST TOOTH!!! Last Wednesday Jody pulled it for her. She was so brave and never cried. I could not believe she was so still as he pulled it. I really assumed that we would have to hold her down to pull it when the time came, but she surprised me. She is really becoming a big girl. She was so excited for the tooth fairy to come. I had to leave extra early for work so I let her sleep and didn't get to see her reaction to the money the tooth fairy left, but Jody told me that her eyes got so big and just glowed with excitement. I guess the money burned a hole in her pocket because she spent it on a snow cone at the rodeo.

Ashlyn had her sixth birthday on the 26th, so Pam had a small cake for the cousins at Mom & Dad's. I think she is having a friends party later. Anyway, we had a good time. Penni, Todd, and Hayden weren't there because they had left for the Bahamas that day (lucky dogs). Hayden's eighth birthday was on the 28th but we will celebrate it when they get back.

We went to the Bogota Rodeo on Friday night, so I got pictures of it. Jody had a horse for me to ride in the grand entry, but as I was riding it around the arena before it started, it got a little spooked from the band music and started acting goofy so I chickened out. All I could invision was me laying on the ground in the mud during the grand entry after the horse bucked me off. I didn't want to take the chance. I am such a wus. We had a good time.

Jody and Rody - hey, I rhymed, lol

Aunt D (DeAnna) and Rody watching the rodeo

Isn't my hubby so handsome on his horse. I've always had a thing for cowboys. lol